Compositions and methods for separating emulsions using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides for a demulsifying composition comprising a blend of a) an emulsion; and b) a demulsifying-effective amount of a silicon containing co-polymer. The present invention also provides for a method for separating emulsions using the demulsifying composition discussed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A composition comprising
 (I) a silicon containing co-polymer comprising at least one compound having the following molecular formula:
   R 1 (CH 2 CH 2 O) d CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) b (CH(CH 2 CH 3 )CH 2 O) c (CH(Z 1/2 R 2 )CH 2 O) a R 5    
 
 where R 2  is a group defined as M* f D* g T* h Q* i R 6   j , 
 where 
 M*=R 7 R 8 R 9 SiZ 1/2 , 
 D*=R 10 R 11 SiZ 2/2 , 
 T*=R 12 SiZ 3/2 , 
 Q*=SiZ 4/2 , 
 R 6 =—(CH 2 ) 1/2 (R 13 ) k (CH 2 ) 1/2 —, independently selected; 
 wherein
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 Z is independently selected from O or CH 2  groups, subject to the limitation that the molecule contains an even number of O 1/2  and even number of (CH 2 ) 1/2  groups and wherein every O 1/2  group is paired with another O 1/2  group and every (CH 2 ) 1/2  group is paired with another (CH 2 ) 1/2  group in the molecule, 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 1000, 
 subscripts d>1, 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+i+j<about 300, and, 
 subscript k is either 0 or 1; and, 
 
 (II) an emulsion wherein the concentration of the silicon containing co-polymer (I) in said composition is from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm. 
 
     
     
       2. The silicon containing co-polymer (I) of  claim 1  wherein:
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 25 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 750; 
 subscript d>1 
 and 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+l+j<about 200. 
 
     
     
       3. The silicon containing co-polymer (I) of  claim 1  wherein:
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 500; 
 subscript d>1 
 and 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+I+j<about 100. 
 
     
     
       4. The composition of  claim 1  wherein said composition further comprises one or more additional organic or silicone demulsifier components and the weight ratio of the silicon containing co-polymer (I) to the total amount of organic and silicone demulsifiers is in the range of about 100:1 to about 1:1000. 
     
     
       5. The composition of  claim 1  wherein the concentration of said silicon containing co-polymer (I) in said composition is from about 0.1 ppm to about 1000 ppm. 
     
     
       6. A composition comprising
 (I) a silicon containing co-polymer comprising at least one compound having the following molecular formula:
   R 1 (CH 2 CH 2 O) a (CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) b (CH[(CH 2 ) 1/2 R]CH 2 O) d R 5    
 
 
       wherein R 2  is a group defined as M* 2 T*R 6 , 
       wherein 
       M*=R 7 R 8 R 9 SiO 1/2 , 
       T*=R 12 Si(O) 2/2 (CH 2 ) 1/2 ; 
       R 6 =—(CH 2 ) 1/2 (R 13 ) k (CH 2 ) 1/2 —, independently selected;
 subject to the limitation that the molecule contains an even number of O 1/2  and an even number of (CH 2 ) 1/2  groups wherein every O 1/2  group is paired with another O 1/2  group and every (CH 2 ) 1/2  group is paired with another (CH 2 ) 1/2  group in the molecule, wherein 
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having I to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 subscripts a, and b are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+d<about 1000, 
 subscripts d>1, 
 subscript k is either 0 or 1; and, 
 (II) an emulsion wherein the concentration of the silicon containing co-polymer (I) in said composition is from about 0.1 ppm to about 10,000 ppm. 
 
     
     
       7. A mining or petroleum processing composition comprising at least one silicon-containing copolymer with the following molecular formula:
   R 1 (CH 2 CH 2 O) d CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) b (CH(CH 2 CH 3 )CH 2 O) c (CH(Z 1/2 R 2 )CH 2 O) a R 5    
 where R 2  is a group defined as M* f D* g T* h Q* i R 6   j , 
 where 
 M*=R 7 R 8 R 9 SiZ 1/2 , 
 D*=R 10 R 11 SiZ 2/2 , 
 T*=R 12 SiZ 3/2 , 
 Q*=SiZ 4/2 , 
 R 6 =—(CH 2 ) 1/2 (R 13 ) k (CH 2 ) 1/2 —, independently selected; 
 wherein
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 40 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 Z is independently selected from O or CH 2  groups, subject to the limitation that the molecule contains an even number of O 1/2  and even number of (CH 2 ) 1/2  groups and wherein every O 1/2  group is paired with another O 1/2  group and every (CH 2 ) 12  group is paired with another (CH 2 ) 1/2  group in the molecule, and that the copolymer contains at least one Si—R 15 —Si group; 
 R 15  is a divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing 1 to about 30 carbon atoms 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 1000, 
 subscripts d>1, 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+i+j<about 300, and, 
 subscript k is either 0 or 1; and, 
 at least one component used in a mining or petroleum processing application selected from the group consisting of crude oil, oil sands, waste oils, slop oils, oily waste from desalters, motor oil, bunker oil, and diesel fuel. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The mining or petroleum processing composition of  claim 7  wherein:
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 25 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 750; 
 subscript d>1 
 and 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+I+j<about 200. 
 
     
     
       9. The mining or petroleum processing composition of  claim 7  wherein:
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 500; 
 subscript d>1 
 and 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+I+j<about 100. 
 
     
     
       10. The mining or petroleum processing composition of  claim 7  wherein the silicon containing co-polymer comprises the compound having the following formula:
   R 1 (CH 2 CH 2 O) a CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) b (CH([(CH2) 1/2 R 2 ]CH 2 O) d R 5 ; 
 wherein R 2  is a group defined as —R 7 R 8 R 9 Si(CH 2 ) m Si(R 10 )(R 11 )R 13 (CH 2 ) 1/2 —; and, 
 wherein 1≦m≦about 10. 
 
     
     
       11. The mining or petroleum processing composition of  claim 7  wherein the silicon containing co-polymer comprises the compound having the following formula:
   R 1 (CH 2 CH 2 O) a CH(CH 3 )CH 2 O) b (CH([(CH2) 1/2 R 2 ]CH 2 O) d R 5 ; 
 wherein R 2  is a group defined as) 
 R 7 R 8 R 9 Si(CH 2 ) l Si(R 10 )(R 11 )R 13 (CH 2 ) 1/2 —; and, 
 wherein 1≦l≦about 10. 
 
     
     
       12. A method for separating emulsions comprising:
 (i) blending the composition of  claim 1 ; 
 (ii) allowing the blended composition to separate into at least two phases; and 
 (iii) separating said at least two phases from each other. 
 
     
     
       13. The method for separating emulsions of  claim 12  wherein
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 30 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 25 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 15 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 750; 
 subscript d>1 
 and 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+I+j<about 200. 
 
     
     
       14. The method for separating emulsions of  claim 13  wherein
 R 1  is independently selected from —OH or —OC(O)CH 3  or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 5  is independently selected from hydrogen or a —C(O)CH 3  group or a monovalent hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12  are each independently selected from the group of OR 14  or monovalent hydrocarbon radicals having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 R 13  is oxygen or divalent linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical containing at least one and less than about 20 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups, 
 R 14  is a monovalent, linear or branched, unsaturated or saturated hydrocarbon radical having 1 to about 10 carbon atoms and optionally containing heteroatoms and hydroxyl groups; 
 subscripts a, b, and c are zero or positive subject to the limitation 3<a+b+c+d<about 500; 
 subscript d>1 
 and 
 subscripts f, g, h, i and j are 0 or positive subject to the limitation f+g+h+I+j<about 100.